Systems, methods, and storage media for detecting a security intrusion of a network device

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and storage media for detecting a security intrusion of a network device are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include a method involving, in the network device including a processor, monitor a light signal associated with a security enabled port of the network device; and in response to detecting a change in the light signal, initiate a security alert.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems, methods, andstorage media for managing a telecommunications network, and moreparticularly to detecting a security intrusion of a network device of atelecommunications network.

BACKGROUND

Fiber-optic communication involves transmitting information betweendevices by sending light waves through an optical fiber. Fiber-opticcommunication systems have revolutionized the telecommunicationsindustry and have played a major role in the evolution of the Internetand the sharing and transmitting of data in general. With numerousadvantages over electrical transmission, optical fiber-basedcommunications are replacing copper wire based communications innetworks throughout the world.

Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is a technology that combines, ormultiplexes, optical carrier signals on a single optical fiber usingdifferent wavelengths (colors) of light. Stated differently, data is notonly encoded into a wave of light but also into discrete wavelengths.With WDM, the capacity of an optical network can be dramaticallyincreased as each fiber can carry many different wavelengths of light.WDM technology allows a network to combine optical signals for manyuses, particularly in transmitting signals from one node of the networkto another.

Many optical networks, particularly long-haul (i.e., those networkscovering vast distances) and metro networks, include devices or servicesthat include WDM features to combine optical signals on a fiber cable.Such devices may include Fixed Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (FOADM) orReconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) devices. Generallyspeaking, a FOADM device provides multiplexing of input optical signalsonto a common output and a ROADM device allows switching among theinputs to the device to generate the multiplexed output signal. With theROADM device, a particular wavelength of light can be identified andswitched between fibers, or otherwise added or removed from amultiplexed wave bundle, without converting the optical signal to anelectrical signal.

The operation and configuration of a ROADM device, as well as othernetworking devices, may be vulnerable to security breaches in which thetraffic transmitted on the ROADM device may be intercepted. Inparticular, a typical ROADM device may include one or more unused portsthrough which traffic may be obtained when nefarious equipment isconnected to the unused ports. For example, in some cases, input signalsinto a ROADM may be replicated on one or more unused output ports,opening up the possibility that traffic capturing equipment may beplugged into or otherwise connected to the unused port to obtain thereplicated traffic. This security vulnerability of the traffic on thenetwork may be exploited to unlawfully monitor and store the networktraffic.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a network securitydevice comprising a plurality of bi-directional communication ports eachcomprising an output port and a corresponding input port, a loopbackconnector to redirect a light signal from an output port of at least oneof the plurality of bi-directional communication ports to acorresponding input port of the at least one of the plurality ofbi-directional communication ports, and a controller configuring the atleast one of the plurality of bi-directional communication ports as asecurity enabled port. The controller may further transmit an alarmindication in response to detecting a loss of the redirected lightsignal on the at least one of the plurality of bi-directionalcommunication ports

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method fordetecting a security intrusion of a network device. The method mayinclude redirecting, at a networking device, a light signal present anoutput portion of a bi-directional communication port of the networkingdevice to a corresponding input portion of the communication port,monitoring, via a controller, a presence of the light signal on theinput portion of the communication port, and transmitting, via thecontroller, a security alarm in response to detecting a loss of lightsignal on the input portion of the communication port.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a networkdevice. The network device may include a network communication portreceiving a telecommunications signal, a wavelength selectable switch(WSS) replicating the telecommunications signal on a plurality ofbi-directional communication ports each comprising an output port and acorresponding input port, and a loopback connector to redirect a lightsignal from an output port of at least one port of the plurality ofbi-directional communication ports to a corresponding input port of theat least one port. The network device may further include aphotodetector associated with the at least one port to detect a lightsignal on the input port of the at least one port and a controllerreceiving a light detection signal from the photodetector andgenerating, based on the light detection signal, a security alarm forthe at least one port.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As usedin the specification and in the claims, the singular form of ‘a’, ‘an’,and ‘the’ include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary network systemfor optical multiplexing connected to a security monitoring system, inaccordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary networkingdevice for multiplexing optical signals, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a compromised networkingdevice, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for detecting a security intrusion of anetwork device, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary securedconfiguration of a network device, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary controller of anetworking device implementing one or more security features in thedevice, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a computing system whichmay be used in implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a networking device configuredto detect a security intrusion at a port of the device and to provide anindication of the detection of security intrusion to a central alarmsystem. In one example, the networking device may include one or moreinput/output (or bi-directional) ports for communications with othercomponents of the networking device. The bi-directional ports mayinclude a photodetector, such as a photodiode, to detect light signalsbeing received on the port. When the port is not connected, no light isreceived at the port and the photodetector will subsequently not detectlight on the port. The photodetector may be in communication with acontroller such that indicator signals of the presence of light on theport may be transmitted to the controller. The controller may beconfigured to generate an alarm condition in response to the indicationsignals received from the photodetectors, as described in more detailbelow.

In some instances, an input signal of network traffic may be received ata common input of the networking device. The common input signal may bedemultiplexed or copied onto one or more of the bi-directional ports forconnection to other networking devices or other components of thenetworking device. In some instances, however, the demultiplexed signalon the input/output ports may be intercepted by a network capturedevice. To prevent the connection of a network capture device on theports, a loopback connector may be coupled with an otherwise empty portcausing the light of the common input signal to be redirected back tothe port and detected by the photodetector. The controller of thenetworking device may configure a state for each unused port to monitorfor the presence of the light on the port based on the signals receivedfrom the photodetectors. In the circumstance that a feedback loop isremoved from a port and the feedback signal is lost (possibly to inserta network capture device into the port), the controller may generate analarm signal based on the indication of the lost signal. In someinstances, the alarm condition (as well as information identifying theport associated with the alarm) may be transmitted to an alarm systemfor processing. In this manner, the networking device may be configuredto detect the potential connection of a network capture device (or othernefarious networking device) to an unused port of the networking deviceand provide an alarm to a monitoring system for verification of the lossof signal and to mitigate any security breaches associated with thenetworking device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary network systemfor optical multiplexing connected to a security monitoring system, inaccordance with one or more implementations. The system 100 includes anetworking device 102, in particular a Reconfigurable Optical Add-DropMultiplexer (ROADM) device 102 used to multiplex optical signals onto acommon output in which switching among multiple input signals isprovided to generate the multiplexed output signal. However, it shouldbe appreciated that other networking devices may also be included in thesystem 100 for which the devices, methods, and systems described hereinmay apply.

As described, the ROADM device 102 provides for switching in incomingoptical signal among multiple output or transmission paths. For example,a ROADM 102 may receive an optical signal from a source, such as Site A.The ROADM 102 provides for redirecting of the signal to any number ofalternate sites in communication with the ROADM 102, such as Site B. Thenumber of alternate sites or transmission paths available to the ROADM102 to switch to may be referred to as the device's degrees of freedom.Thus, a ROADM 102 with four possible output paths may include fourdegrees of freedom for transmission of a received optical signal. Inaddition, portions of the optical signal may be demultiplexed from theinput signal and provided to other circuits or customers of a network.This may be referred to as “dropping” portions of the signal from themultiplexed optical signal.

In FIG. 1 , only a portion of the ROADM device 102 is illustrated forsimplicity. In particular, the ROADM 102 of FIG. 1 illustrates a firstwavelength selectable switch (WSS) 104 portion of a ROADM incommunication with a second WSS portion 106 of a ROADM 102. Each WSS104, 106 provide for the multiplexing, switching, demultiplexing,dropping, and the like of an incoming optical signal. A ROADM 102 mayinclude several WSS modules, although only two are illustrated in FIG. 1. The illustrated two WSS modules of the ROADM 102 therefore provide theROADM with two degrees of freedom, meaning that the ROADM 102 may beconfigured to provide an incoming optical signal to another site or backto the origination site. Additional WSS modules increase in the degreesof freedom of the ROADM 102 by providing additional transmission pathsfor an incoming optical signal.

In this example, the ROADM 102 is configured to interconnect Site A andSite B such that an optical signal may be transmitted between the twosites via the ROADM 102 device. The WSS components 104, 106 of the ROADM102 illustrated are 8x1 wavelength selectable switches, as theymultiplex or demultiplex a signal between one bi-directional port(referred to as a “common” port) and 8 bi-directional ports (referred toas the “output” ports). The two WSS 104, 106 may be part of the same orseparate ROADM devices 102. Additional WSS 104, 106 may be included in aROADM 102 to increase the degrees of freedom of the ROADM 102 device.Also, other types of WSS 104, 106 may be incorporated in the ROADM 102,such as 4X1, 16X1, 8X2, WSS components, and so forth.

As shown, WSS-A 104 includes a common port connected to Site A such thatan optical signal may be received or transmitted to Site A from WSS-A104. Similarly, WSS-B 106 includes a common port connected to Site Bsuch that an optical signal may be received or transmitted to Site Bfrom WSS-B 106. Within the ROADM 102, each WSS 104, 106 provides a copyof the signals received on the common port to the eight output ports ofthe respective WSS 104, 106. It is noted that each of the output portsof the WSS 104, 106 are bi-directional such that the term “output port”is used for convenience herein. For example, WSS-A 104 may receive aninput signal from Site A on the common port and provides (through ademultiplexer described below) the received common signal to each of theeight output ports of the WSS-A 104. The output ports of each of the WSS104, 106 provide for interconnection with other WSS of the ROADM 102 orto drop portions of the optical signal to other circuits or networks. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 1 , WSS-A 104 and WSS-B 106 areinterconnected over port 2 of each WSS. Further, port 8 of each WSS 104,106 is utilized to drop out the optical signal through demultiplexers114, 116. Although illustrated as connecting across port 2, port 2 ofWSS-A 104 may connect to any port of WSS-B 106 to interconnect the WSScomponents 104, 106. Further, the dropped signal may be output from anyport of the WSS 104, 106. Further still, other WSS of the ROADM 102 mayconnect to the unused ports of the WSS 104, 106 illustrated to increasethe degrees of freedom of the ROADM 102.

In the example shown, WSS-B 106 may receive the optical signal fromWSS-A 104 via port 2 and provide the optical signal on the common outputport to Site B. In the circumstance in which other WSS are connected toWSS-B 106 via one or more of the unused ports, WSS-B 106 may combine ormultiplex signals from each of the connected ports through a switchingmechanism. The example illustrated in FIG. 1 provides for the an opticalsignal received from Site A at the ROADM 102 to be output on port 2 ofWSS-A 104 to port 2 of WSS-B 106 and output to Site B. In a similarmanner, an optical signal from Site B may be transmitted to Site A alongthe same path in the opposite direction. Portions of the optical signalsmay be dropped to other circuits or networks in addition to beingtransmitted to other sites.

The ROADM 102 may also include a controller 108 in communication withthe WSS 104, 106 of the ROADM 102. In some instances, the controller 108may configure one or more aspects of the WSS 104, 106, such as assigningan operational state to one or more ports of the WSS, controlling theswitching and/or multiplexing functions of the WSS 104, 106, receivingoperational information from the WSS 104, 106, and the like. In someinstances, signals received from the WSS 104, 106 may cause thecontroller 108 to generate an alarm condition or state. The controller108 may, in some instances, transmit an alarm to an alarm monitor system112 via a network 110. The transmitted alarm may be based on a detectedloss of light at a port of a WSS 104, 106 of the ROADM 102 and mayindicate a potential security breach at the ROADM 102. The transmissionof the alarm condition to the alarm monitoring system 112 may alsoinitiate one or more responses or procedures to determine the extent ofthe detected security breach at the ROADM 102. The operations,algorithms, and functions of the controller 108 are described in moredetail below.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary networkingdevice 104 for multiplexing optical signals, in accordance with one ormore implementations. In particular, the networking device 104 of FIG. 2is a schematic illustration of a WSS 104 of the ROADM 102 discussedabove in relation to FIG. 1 . Although described in relation to theWSS-A 104 of FIG. 1 , WSS-B 106 or other WSS components of a ROADM 102may include a similar composition or design. The systems, methods, anddevices discussed herein to provide a security feature to a ROADM 102 orother networking device may also apply to other devices or components.Rather, the design of FIG. 2 is provided here as an example component towhich one or more of the features described herein may apply.

As described, the WSS 104 may include a common port and 8 output ports,although more or fewer common ports and/or output ports may be includedin other versions of the WSS. Each port, including the common port,includes an input portion and an output portion such that each port is abi-directional port. Although the input and output portions of the portsare illustrated separately in FIG. 2 , each port may include a singleinterface over which both input and output signals are transmitted. Eachof ports 1-8 of the WSS-A 104 of FIG. 1 thus are illustrated as an inputportion and an output portion in FIG. 2 . For example, port 1 of WSS-A104 includes input port 202 and output port 226. In input port 202-216may be connected to a wavelength switch 218 that is configured tomultiplex input signals from the input ports 202-216 into a common,multiplexed output signal as described above. Thus, wavelength switch218 may transmit the multiplexed output signal to common output port 222for transmission to another site or node of a network (such as to Site Bof FIG. 1 ). Wavelength switch 218 may also switch between signals oninput ports 202-216 to generate the switched multiplexed optical outputsignal as described.

The common input port 224 may receive an optical signal from a site ornode of the network (such as Site A of FIG. 1 ) and provide the commoninput signal to a passive demultiplexer 220 component. The demultiplexer220 duplicates the common input signal on common input port 224 andprovides the duplicated signal to output port 1-8 226-240. Thus, eachoutput port 226-240 receives and provides the same signal correspondingto the common input signal. However, one or more of the output ports226-240 may remain unused when installed or instantiated in a network.Utilizing FIGS. 1 and 2 as an example, WSS-A 104 receives a common inputsignal at common input port 224 from Site A. Passive demultiplexer 220of WSS-A 104 duplicates the input signal and provides the signal to eachoutput port 226-240. Output port 2 228 of WSS-A 104 is connected toinput port 2 204 of WSS-B 106 such that the input signal provided toWSS-A 104 is transmitted out of port 2 228 into corresponding port 2 204of WSS-B106. Upon transmission via input port 2 204, the signal isreceived at wavelength switch 218 of WSS-B 106 and provided to commonoutput port 222 for transmission to Site B. In this manner, signalsreceived at the common input port of the WSS 104 may be transmitted orswitched to other WSS components or sites via the communications portsof the WSS.

A photodetector 242 or other light detecting sensor may be connected toeach of the input ports 202-216 of the ROADM device 102. In general, aphotodetector 242 detects the presence of light on the correspondinginput port 202-216 and provides an indication signal of the measurementof light on the input. In some instances, the photodetector 242 maymeasure the intensity of the light present on the input port 202-216,while other photodetectors 242 provide an on or off indication. Althoughnot illustrated in FIG. 2 , each of the photodetectors 242 may be incommunication with controller 108 to provide the indication signal tothe controller 108. As described in more detail below, the controller108 may determine which of the input ports 202-216 has a light signalpresent at the port. The common input port 224 may also include aphotodetector 242 to detect the presence of a light signal on the commoninput port 224.

As further illustrated in the system 100 of FIG. 1 , one or more of theports of the WSS 104, 106 of the ROADM 102 may be unused. For example,port 1 and ports 3-7 of both WSS 104, 106 of the ROADM 102 areunconnected to other WSS, components of the ROADM, networks, etc. Theseunused or open ports provide a potential security flaw for networktraffic carried by the ROADM 102. For example, FIG. 3 is a schematicdiagram illustrating a compromised networking device 102, in accordancewith one or more implementations. The networking device 102 may be thesame ROADM as discussed above that includes WSS-A 104 and WSS-B 106connected across port 2 of the respective WSS. In this illustration,however, a network capture and analyzer device 302 is connected to port1 of WSS-A 104 and port 1 of WSS-B 106. As discussed above in relationto FIG. 2 , the common input signal provided to common input port 224 isreplicated to each output port 226-240. A network analyzer 302 connectedto an unused port of the WSS 104, 106 of the ROADM 102 may thereforereceive the common input signal provided on the common input port 224.By connecting the network analyzer 302 to one port of each of the WSS104, 106 of the ROADM 102, all traffic signals into the ROADM 102 may beobtained, analyzed, and/or stored. A bad actor attempting to capture allor some of the data of the network may therefore connect a capturedevice 302 to the ports of a ROADM 102 to steal the network information.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 for detecting a security intrusion of anetwork device 102, in accordance with one or more implementations. Oneor more of the operations may be performed by components of the ROADMdevice 102, such as controller 108. In addition, one or more of theoperations may be performed by software programs, hardware components,or a combination of hardware and software components of the networkingdevice 102. Beginning in operation 502, one or more of the unused portsof WSS 104, 106 of the ROADM 102 may be configured to detect an outputat the port. For example, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating anexemplary secured configuration of a network device 102, in accordancewith one or more implementations. The network device 102 of FIG. 5 is asimilar ROADM device as described above with WSS-A 104 interconnectedwith WSS-B 106 over port 2. However, in the embodiment illustrated, eachunused port for WSS-A 104 and WSS-B 106 includes a loopback 502 thatconnects the output port of each port to the corresponding input portionof the port. More particularly, a loopback circuit 502 may be insertedor connected to ports 1 and 3-7 of WSS-A 104 and WSS-B 106 as thoseports are unused by the ROADM 102. The loopback circuits 502 connect theoutput portion of the respective ports (such as Port 1—Out 226 of theWSS 104 of FIG. 2 ) to the corresponding input portion of the same port(such as Port 1—In 202 of FIG. 2 ). The loopbacks 502 thus providing anysignal present on the output portion of the port to the input portion ofthe port. The loopbacks 502 may be physical connections or softwareconnections configured to feedback the signal on the output portion ofthe port to the input portion of the same port. In one instance, thecontroller 108 may configure a software interconnect to form theloopback 502. In another example, the loopback 502 may be a physicaldevice that is inserted into the port to feedback the signal.

Returning to the method 400 of FIG. 4 , the controller 108 may configurea port state for each of the ports of the WSS 104, 106 of the ROADM 102device. For example, a function of each port may be identified andstored by the controller 108 based on the configuration of the ROADM102. Such port states may include an unused or unconnected state, aninterconnection state (for ports that interconnect to other WSScomponents of the ROADM 102), a traffic drop state (for ports from whichone or more portions of the optical signal are dropped to othercircuits), and the like. The controller 108 in the example figures maythus state a “interconnect” state for port 2 of WSS-A 104 and port 2 ofWSS-B 106, a “drop traffic” state for port 8 of the WSS 104, 106, and an“unconnected state” for ports 1 and 3-7 for the WSS 104, 106. In someinstances, the controller 108 may assign or associated a“used/connected” state or an “unused/unconnected” state to the ports ofthe WSS 104, 106.

In operation 406, the controller 108 may set or associate a securityalarm procedure for ports of the WSS 104, 106 designated as unused orunconnected. In general, the alarm procedure monitors for a loss oflight at the port and initiates an alarm condition when a loss of lightis detected. For example and as discussed above with reference to FIG. 2, the common input signal is duplicated and provided to the outputportion of each port 226-240 of the WSS 104 such that the common inputsignal is available from any port 226-240 of the component. The feedbackloops 502 provide the common input signal on each output port 226-240back to the input portion of the respective ports 202-216. Theassociated photodetector 242 connected to the input portion of each port202-216 may then detect that a light signal is present at the input port202-216. As each photodetector 242 provides an indication signal to thecontroller 108 as to the presence or loss of light at the respectiveport 202-216, the controller 108 may determine the presence of thecommon input signal being received at each of the unused input ports206-218.

Returning to operation 406, the alarm procedure associated with theunused ports of the WSS 104, 106 may comprise generating an alarmcondition for the port when a loss of light is detected at the port bythe corresponding photodetector 242. Upon detection of a loss of a lightsignal at the port, the controller 108 may generate an alarm conditionfor the port. In addition to setting the alarm condition for the port,the controller 108 may transmit an indication of the alarm condition forthe port to the alarm monitoring system 112, as described in more detailbelow.

With a security alarm procedure associated with the unused ports, thecontroller 108 may begin monitoring the ports for a loss of signal. Inoperation 408, the controller 108 may determine if a loss of a lightsignal at any of the unused ports is detected, based on the indicationsignals provided by the photodetectors 242 of the WSS 104, 106. A lossof light at an unused port may occur when a loopback 502 is removed froma port, perhaps to insert a network capture device 302 into a port ofthe WSS 104, 106. If no loss of light at the port is detected, thecontroller 108 may continue to monitor for the loss of light inoperation 410 and determine again if a loss of light is detected at theport in operation 408.

In some instances, determining a loss of light at an input port of theWSS 104, 106 may include the controller 108 comparing the sensor signalfrom the photodetector connected to the common input port 224 to thesensor signals received from the photodetectors 242 associated with theinput ports 202-216. A loss of light may be determined if the sensorsignals from the compared photodetectors 242 is different. In thisexample, a loss of the common input signal may not necessarily triggeran alarm as the common input signal loss would be detected at the commoninput port 224 and the input ports 202-216 simultaneously. Rather, thealarm condition may be triggered when the common input signal isdetected at the common input port 224 but not at one or more of theinput ports 202-216, indicating a removal of the loopback 502 from thedetected port.

The loopback 502 at each unused port provides the common input signal tothe corresponding photodetectors 242 such that the photodetectors 242may detect when the loopback 502 is removed and light signal is nolonger present at the input port. If a loss of light is detected inoperation 408, the controller 108 may generate an alarm condition forthe affected port in operation 412. Further, the controller 108 maytransmit an indication of the alarm condition to the alarm monitoringsystem 112 via a network 110. The alarm monitoring system 112 may be anycomputing device or network associated with the ROADM 102 for monitoringalarms generated by the ROADM 102. In some instances, the alarmmonitoring system 112 may monitor alarms for several network devices andmay be associated with a network operational center. The alarmmonitoring system 112 may generate one or more alerts to networkengineers or administrators in response to receiving the alarmcondition. The generated alarm indication may include informationassociated with the ROADM 102, such as an identification of the device,an identification of the alarm type, an identification of the particularport associated with the alarm, a location of the device 102, and thelike.

In operation 414, the controller 108 may determine the cause of thealarm condition at the affected port. For example, the alarm monitoringsystem 112 may generate an alert to a network or device administrator toinvestigate the cause of the generated alarm. This may includedispatching a technician to the device 102 to determine if a networkcapture device was connected to the port in which an alarm wasgenerated. In some instances, the loss of light alarm at the port may bethe result of an accidental removal of the loopback 502 or some networkoutage at the port. In other instances, however, the alarm may betriggered by the connection of a nefarious device to the port. As longas the alarm cause is not verified or investigated, the controller 108may maintain the alarm condition for the port in operation 416. However,after verification or investigation of the alarm cause, the alarmcondition for the port may be reset in operation 418 and the controller108 may return to monitoring the photodetectors 242 of the WSS 104, 106of the ROADM 102 in operation 406 by setting the security alarm for theunused ports of the WSS 104, 106. In one example, resetting of the alarmmay be in response to a command provided to the controller 108 from thealarm monitoring system 112 via the network 110. In another example, thealarm condition may be cleared at the ROADM 102 device by accessing thecontroller 108.

In addition to the photodetectors 242, the ports of the WSS 104, 106 mayalso include one or more physical sensors to detect the insertion of acable or device into the port. For example, a mechanical switch may beconnected to or otherwise associated with each port of the WSS 104, 106that activates when a device or cable is inserted into the port. Eachswitch may transmit a signal to the controller 108 that indicates aposition of the respective switch. The controller 108 may determine,based on the signals provided by the mechanical switches, which portshave a cable or device plugged into the port. For ports that aredesignated as “unused” or “unconnected”, a signal from the switchindicating that a device is connected to the port may cause thecontroller 108 to generate an alarm. In some instances, the controller108 may utilize the switch sensor indicator to verify the photodetector242 input, override the photodetector 242 input, or generate an alarmregardless of the photodetector 242 input.

Additional security features may also be included in the ROADM 102 orWSS 104, 106 of the ROADM. For example, the controller 108 may configureone or more attenuation levels of the unused ports of the WSS 104, 106.In one instance, the attenuation level of the unused ports may beincreased by the controller 108 such that a transmission signal is nolonger transmitted from the output portion of the ports. In anotherinstance, a noise signal may be applied to the input portion of eachport of the WSS 104, 106 to fill up the spectrum at the port. In thisinstance, loopbacks 502 may not be used as the noise generating devices504 are inserted into the input portion of the ports. To accommodate forthe lack of loopbacks 502, a photodetector 242 may then be applied orinserted at the output portion of the port and provide a detectionsignal to the controller 108. Removal of the photodetector 242 at theoutput port would generate the alarm as described above. In general, theabove methods and systems apply any networking device in which an inputsignal is replicated on one or more unused ports, causing a potentialsecurity vulnerability to the networking device.

FIG. 6 illustrates a system 600 configured for detecting a securityintrusion of a network device 102, in accordance with one or moreimplementations. In some implementations, system 600 may include one ormore servers 604 in communication with at least one ROADM 102 or othernetworking device. The ROADM 102 may be configured to communicate withthe server computing platforms 604 according to a client/serverarchitecture and/or other architectures. The ROADM 102 may be configuredwith machine-readable instructions 106 that include one or moreinstruction modules. The instruction modules may include computerprogram modules. The instruction modules may include one or more of asignal monitoring module 608, a security alert initiation module 610, asecurity receiving module 612, a security alert transmittal module 614,a signal receiving module 616, and/or other instruction modules.

Security alert initiation module 610 may be configured to, in responseto detecting a change in the light signal, initiate a security alert. Asecurity receiving module 612 may be configured to, at the processor,receive a security setting for the port for the security enabling, thesecurity setting indicative of the presence of the loopback connector inthe port. Generally speaking, remotely or by connecting a serviceterminal or computer to the network device (e.g., ROADM), aconfiguration module of the ROADM 102 may be accessed and any portintended to be looped-back (security enable) configured or set as such.The security setting security may enable the monitoring of the change inlight signal on the port of the networking device 102. The securityenabled port may include a loopback connector 502 that redirects thelight signal, as described. The removal of such loopback connector 502may cause the change in the light signal. More particularly, the lightsignal may be redirected by the loopback connector 502 for detection bya photodetector 242 coupled with the security enabled port. The removalof the loopback connector 502 may cause the change in the light signaland the initiating of the security alert. So, by security enabling theport, the processor detects light changes associated with the port whenthe loop back connector is removed.

Security alert transmittal module 614 may be configured to transmit thesecurity alert over a network. For example, the server 604 may be partof a network operations center and be running a monitoring program. Thesecurity alert may be received and flagged at the server. The signal mayinclude some identification of the device initiating the signal, and mayalso include port information and the like. In some instances, personnelmay then initiate a manual review of the device, and removal of anynefarious hardware or otherwise correction of any problem associatedwith the device triggering the security alert. Alternatively, themonitoring program may generate a signal, for receipt by a signalreceiving module 616 configured to receive a signal to disable thenetworking device. The initiation of such a signal may be automatic orresponsive to a user command entered at the monitoring device.

In some implementations, the server(s) 604 and networking devices 102may be operatively linked via one or more electronic communicationlinks. For example, such electronic communication links may beestablished, at least in part, via a network such as the Internet and/orother networks. It will be appreciated that this is not intended to belimiting, and that the scope of this disclosure includes implementationsin which networking devices 102, server(s) 604, and/or externalresources 618 may be operatively linked via some other communicationmedia.

A given server computing platform 604 may include one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program modules. The computer programmodules may be configured to enable an expert or user associated withthe given computing platform 604 to interface with the system 600 and/orexternal resources 618, and/or provide other functionality attributedherein to the server platform(s) 604. By way of non-limiting example,the server computing platform 604 may include one or more of a servermay be implemented by any number of possible computing platforms,including some level of virtualization, and may be include a bladedevice, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, atablet computing platform, a and/or other computing platforms.

External resources 618 may include sources of information outside ofsystem 600, external entities participating with system 600, and/orother resources. In some implementations, some or all of thefunctionality attributed herein to external resources 618 may beprovided by resources included in system 600. The network device 602 mayinclude electronic storage 620, one or more processors 622, and/or othercomponents. The network device 602 may include communication lines, orports to enable the exchange of information with a network and/or othercomputing platforms. The network device 602 may include a plurality ofhardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together toprovide the functionality attributed herein to the security enabling anetwork device.

It should be appreciated that although modules 608, 610, 612, 614,and/or 616 are illustrated in FIG. 6 as being implemented within asingle processing unit, in implementations in which processor(s) 622includes multiple processing units, one or more of modules 608, 610,612, 614, and/or 616 may be implemented remotely from the other modules.The description of the functionality provided by the different modules608, 610, 612, 614, and/or 616 described below is for illustrativepurposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any of modules 608,610, 612, 614, and/or 616 may provide more or less functionality than isdescribed. For example, one or more of modules 608, 610, 612, 614,and/or 616 may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality maybe provided by other ones of modules 608, 610, 612, 614, and/or 616. Asanother example, processor(s) 622 may be configured to execute one ormore additional modules that may perform some or all of thefunctionality attributed below to one of modules 608, 610, 612, 614,and/or 616.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computing deviceor computer system 700 which may be used in implementing the embodimentsof the components of the network disclosed above. For example, thecomputing system 700 of FIG. 7 may be the controller 108 discussedabove. The computer system (system) includes one or more processors702-706. Processors 702-706 may include one or more internal levels ofcache (not shown) and a bus controller or bus interface unit to directinteraction with the processor bus 712. Processor bus 712, also known asthe host bus or the front side bus, may be used to couple the processors702-706 with the system interface 714. System interface 714 may beconnected to the processor bus 712 to interface other components of thesystem 700 with the processor bus 712. For example, system interface 714may include a memory controller 714 for interfacing a main memory 716with the processor bus 712. The main memory 716 typically includes oneor more memory cards and a control circuit (not shown). System interface714 may also include an input/output (I/O) interface 720 to interfaceone or more I/O bridges or I/O devices with the processor bus 712. Oneor more I/O controllers and/or I/O devices may be connected with the I/Obus 726, such as I/O controller 728 and I/O device 730, as illustrated.

I/O device 730 may also include an input device (not shown), such as analphanumeric input device, including alphanumeric and other keys forcommunicating information and/or command selections to the processors702-706. Another type of user input device includes cursor control, suchas a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicatingdirection information and command selections to the processors 702-706and for controlling cursor movement on the display device.

System 700 may include a dynamic storage device, referred to as mainmemory 716, or a random access memory (RAM) or other computer-readabledevices coupled to the processor bus 712 for storing information andinstructions to be executed by the processors 702-706. Main memory 716also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediateinformation during execution of instructions by the processors 702-706.System 800 may include a read only memory (ROM) and/or other staticstorage device coupled to the processor bus 712 for storing staticinformation and instructions for the processors 702-706. The system setforth in FIG. 7 is but one possible example of a computer system thatmay employ or be configured in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

According to one embodiment, the above techniques may be performed bycomputer system 700 in response to processor 704 executing one or moresequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 716.These instructions may be read into main memory 716 from anothermachine-readable medium, such as a storage device. Execution of thesequences of instructions contained in main memory 716 may causeprocessors 702-706 to perform the process steps described herein. Inalternative embodiments, circuitry may be used in place of or incombination with the software instructions. Thus, embodiments of thepresent disclosure may include both hardware and software components.

A machine readable medium includes any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form (e.g., software, processingapplication) readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). Such media maytake the form of, but is not limited to, non-volatile media and volatilemedia and may include removable data storage media, non-removable datastorage media, and/or external storage devices made available via awired or wireless network architecture with such computer programproducts, including one or more database management products, web serverproducts, application server products, and/or other additional softwarecomponents. Examples of removable data storage media include CompactDisc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Disc Read-Only Memory(DVD-ROM), magneto-optical disks, flash drives, and the like. Examplesof non-removable data storage media include internal magnetic harddisks, SSDs, and the like. The one or more memory devices 606 mayinclude volatile memory (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM),static random access memory (SRAM), etc.) and/or non-volatile memory(e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.).

Computer program products containing mechanisms to effectuate thesystems and methods in accordance with the presently describedtechnology may reside in main memory 716, which may be referred to asmachine-readable media. It will be appreciated that machine-readablemedia may include any tangible non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding instructions to perform any one or more of theoperations of the present disclosure for execution by a machine or thatis capable of storing or encoding data structures and/or modulesutilized by or associated with such instructions. Machine-readable mediamay include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized ordistributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that storethe one or more executable instructions or data structures.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include various steps, which aredescribed in this specification. The steps may be performed by hardwarecomponents or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, whichmay be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processorprogrammed with the instructions to perform the steps. Alternatively,the steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software and/orfirmware.

Although the present technology has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology isnot limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it isto be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to theextent possible, one or more features of any implementation can becombined with one or more features of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A networking device comprising: a networkcommunication port receiving a telecommunications signal; a switchmodule replicating the telecommunications signal on a plurality ofbi-directional communication ports each comprising an output port and acorresponding input port; a photodetector associated with at least oneport of the plurality of bi-directional communication ports to detect alight signal on the input port of the at least one port; a controllerconfiguring the at least one port of the plurality of bi-directionalcommunication ports as a security enabled port, the controller receivinga light detection signal from the photodetector and generating, based onthe light detection signal, a security alarm for the security enabledport; and a switch device associated with the at least one of theplurality of bi-directional communication ports and transmitting, to thecontroller, an insertion signal upon a change of state of the switchdevice in response to an insertion of a cable into the at least one ofthe plurality of bi-directional communication ports, wherein generationof the security alarm is further in response to receiving, at thecontroller, the insertion signal from the switch device associated withthe security enabled port.
 2. The networking device of claim 1 furthercomprising: the switch associated with the at least one port andtransmitting, to the controller, an insertion signal in response to aninsertion of a device into the at least one port.
 3. The networkingdevice of claim 1 wherein the light detection signal indicates a loss ofthe light signal at the input port of the at least one port.
 4. Thenetworking device of claim 1 wherein a second port of the plurality ofbi-directional communication ports other than the at least one port isconnected to another networking device, the controller disregarding alight detection signal associated with the second port.
 5. Thenetworking device of claim 1 wherein the photodetector detects a removalof a loopback connector and transmits, in response to the removal of theloopback connector, a loss of signal indicator to the controller.
 6. Thenetworking device of claim 1 wherein the network device is areconfigurable optical add drop multiplexor (ROADM).
 7. The networkingdevice of claim 6 wherein the photodetector is a photodiode.
 8. Thenetworking device of claim 6 wherein the plurality of bi-directionalcommunication ports are operably associated with a wavelength selectableswitch component of the ROADM.
 9. The networking device of claim 1, thenetwork device further comprising: a common signal bi-directional portcomprise a common signal port receiving a common light signal; and ademultiplexer replicating the common light signal to the output port ofeach of the plurality of bi-directional communication ports.
 10. Thenetworking device of claim 9, the network device further comprising alight-detecting sensor associated with the common signal bi-directionalport and transmitting, to the controller, a common signal indicatorsignal, wherein the controller further compares an indicator signalcorresponding to the detection of the light signal on the input port ofthe at least one port of the plurality of bi-directional communicationports and the common signal indicator signal.
 11. The networking deviceof claim 1 wherein the at least one of the plurality of bi-directionalcommunication ports is not providing communication with anothernetworking device.